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Terminology


In the dojo it's traditional to receive a lot of instructions in Japanese. Although the phrases can be confusing at the start, you learn them rapidly, starting with 'Hai!' - the emphatic 'Yes!' that you should use to acknowledge your Sensei.

 

Japanese Phrases English Meaning
DOJO (Dough-Joe) School or training location
KARATEKA (Car-at-ay-car) Karate Student
SENSEI (Sen-say) Teacher or Instructor
SEMPAI (Sem-pie) Assistant to the Sensei
SEIZA (Say-za) Sit (formal fashion)
REI (Ray) Bow
MOKUSO (Mok-sow) Close your eyes
MOKUSO YAME (Mok-sow-ya-may) Open your eyes
AUTAGANE (Au-ta-ga-ney) Everybody
HAI (Hy) Yes!
  You should respond with 'Hai' immediately when you are called by your Sensei (or Sempai) and when you understand an instruction.
KUMITE (Koo-mit-tay) Sparring with an opponent
YOI (Yoy) Ready stance - standing in parallel stance
KIAI (Key-eye) Shout of spirit
KIME (Kim-ay) Ready or take position
HAJIME (Ha-gim-ay) Begin
YAME (Ya-may) Stop
TSUKI (Zu-ki) Punch
UCHI (Oo-chi) Strike
UKE (Oo-Kay) Block
GERI (Ge-ri) Kick
JODAN (Joe-dan) Head level
CHUDAN (Chew-dan) Stomach level
GEDAN (Ge-dan) Groin level
   
Punches and Strikes  
CHUDAN TSUKI (Chew-dan-zu-ki) Stomach level punch
JODAN TSUKI (Joe-dan-zu-ki) Head level punch
URA UCHI (Oo-rar-oo-chi) Back fist strike
HAITO UCHI (Hi-toe-oo-chi) Ridge hand strike
SHITA TSUKI (Shi-ta-zu-ki) Short punch
HIJI ATE (Hi-gee Ar-tay) Rising elbow strike
MAWASHI EMPI (Ma-washy-em-pee) Round elbow strike
SHUTO UCHI (Shoe-toe-oo-chi) Knife hand strike
OI TSUKI (Oy-zu-ki) Lunge punch
GYAKU TSUKI (Gi-aku-zu-ki) Reverse punch
   
Blocks  
JODAN AGE UKE (Joe-dan-ar-gi-oo-kay) Rising head level block
UCHI UKE (Oo-chi-oo-kay) Inside hooking block
SOTO UKE (s-oto-oo-kay) Outside hooking block
GEDAN BARAI (Ge-dan Bar-eye) Downwards block
GEDAN UKE (Ge-dan-oo-kay) Sweeping block
CHUGE UKE (Chew-gi-oo-kay) Double block
KAKE UKE (Car-key-oo-kay) Open hand hooking block
MAWASHI UKE (Ma-washy-oo-kay) Round block
SHUTO UKE (Shoe-toe-oo-kay) Knife hand block
   
Stances
HEIKO DACHI (Hay-kow-dutch) Parallel stance
ZENKUTSU DACHI (Zen-koot-sue-dutch) Long forward stance
KIBA DACHI (Key-ba-dutch) Horse riding stance
SHIKO DACHI (She-kow-dutch) Sumo stance
KOKUTSU DACHI (Kow-koot-sue-dutch) Back leaning stance
SANCHIN DACHI (Sun-shin-dutch) Pigeon toed / Hourglass stance
NEKOASHI DACHI (Neck-o-ashy-dutch) Cat stance
   
Kicks
MAE GERI (May-gery) Front kick
MAWASHI GERI (Mar-washy-gery) Round kick
YOKO GERI (Yo-kow-gery) Side kick
USHIRO GERI (You-shiro-gery) Back kick
   
Kata
KATA (Car-ta) A set sequence of techniques against imaginary opponents.
BUNKAI (Bunk-eye) The application of kata techniques against actual opponents. 
TAIGYOKU SHODAN (Tay-ig-yo-koo-show-dan) Basics drill number 1
TAIGYOKU NIDAN (Tay-ig-yo-koo-knee-dan) Basics drill number 2
HEIAN SHODAN (Hi-anne Show-dan) Peaceful mind number 1
HEIAN GODAN (Hi-anne Go-dan)                                  Peaceful mind number 5                                             
SAIFA (Sigh-far) Tearing
BASSAI-DAI (Ba-sigh-die) Storming the fortress
SEIUNCHIN (Say-oon-chin) Control, suppress, pull
ENPI (En-pee) Flight of a swallow
SEIPAI (Say-eye) 18 Hands
KANKU-DAI (Kun-koo-die) Viewing the Sky

SANCHIN (San-chin)

Three battles
SANSEIRU (San-say-roo)                                             36 Hands                                                                  
BASSAI SHO (Ba-sigh Show) Storming the fortress
SHISOCHIN (She-so-chin)                                            Four directions battle                                                  
SEISAN (Say-san) 13 Hands
GOJUSHIHO SHO (Go-joo-she-ho Show)                         54 steps                                                                   
MEIKYO (May-key-oh) Brightly polished mirror
KURURUNFA (Kuh-ruh-roon-far)                                    Holding on and striking suddenly                                 
TENSHO (Ten-show) Revolving hands
NIJUSHIHO (Nee-joo-she-ho)                                       24 Steps                                                                   
SOCHIN (Soh-chin) Rooted
SUPARENPEI (Soo-par-en-pay)                                    108 Hands                                                                
UNSU (Oon-soo) Cloud hands
   
Numbers
ICHI (Itch) One
NI (Nee) Two
SAN (San) Three
SHI (Shee) Four
GO (Go) Five
ROKU (Rook) Six
SHICHI (Shitch) Seven
HACHI (Hutch) Eight
KU (Koo) Nine
JU (Joo) Ten